Hong Kong has planned two visual art exhibitions and a raft of performances including opera, dance and multi-media shows for the upcoming Expo, while Macao has witnessed smooth construction of its pavilions, officials told an Expo consultative conference on December 21.

An artist's rendition of the Hong Kong Pavilion [en.expo2010]

One of Hong Kong's visual art shows will feature the development and innovation of ink art, while the other will highlight the assimilation and transformation of western and Chinese aesthetics in shaping the uniqueness of Hong Kong art.

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More than 140 works by the region's young artists will be on display, said Joshua Law Chi-kong, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs of Hong Kong.

The special administrative region will also stage 47 cultural performances during the fair, featuring local troupes and artistes in Cantonese opera, Chinese and western music, theatre and dance.

The region will explore the theme "Hong Kong - the Infinite City," with a focus on its transport network, advanced scientific facilities, financial and trade systems, multinational culture and sustainable high-quality urban life.

Highlights include environmental protection, tourism, culture, innovation and the "one country, two systems" principle.

Macao will complete the construction of its pavilion in January. The pavilion will broadcast videos for visitors waiting outside.

Macao has launched a global online vote to select the 10 most popular characters in the martial art works of Hong Kong writer Louis Cha, better known by his pen name Jin Yong. The characters will feature in a multimedia display at the pavilion.

The Macao Pavilion takes the shape of a rabbit lantern.

It will be covered by a double-layer glass membrane and fluorescent screens. Kinetic balloons will form the head and tail of the "rabbit." In Chinese mythology, the jade rabbit welcomes visitors to a magical fairyland.

The special administrative region is also building a replica of Macao's 92-year-old Tak Seng On Pawnshop as its Urban Best Practices Area case.

A pre-Expo forum will be staged in Hong Kong in January, 2010, under the theme "Vertical Density, the Public Dimension: Dialogue between Hong Kong - Shanghai - New York". In Macao, it is "Sustainable Development, Better Life."